Due to poor eyesight in murky waters, what senses do White Sturgeon heavily rely on to detect hidden prey?
Answer
Chemoreception and lateral line stimulation.
White Sturgeon frequently inhabit murky or turbid waters where visual acuity is severely limited. To compensate for this environmental challenge and successfully locate prey that might be buried or obscured in the mud or sand, they have evolved a strong reliance on non-visual sensory input. Chemoreception, which involves the senses of taste and smell, allows them to detect the chemical signatures released by potential food items. Concurrently, they utilize stimulation of their lateral line system, enabling them to sense subtle movements or pressure changes caused by nearby organisms, making the palatability and chemical signature crucial factors in their foraging success.
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